If you would have told me, just two years ago, that I would be using essential oils, I would have laughed.
If you would have told me, just two years ago, that I would be making (and loving) my own toothpaste, I would have de-friended you. I mean, seriously, who doesn’t love those bubbly tingling scrubbers called “fresh” in your mouth from brushing your teeth right after downing a bloomin’ onion?
I don’t…at least, not anymore.
I’ll admit it, when I first told my husband that I was going to try making my own toothpaste, I cringed at the idea. Besides, I had barely gotten used to oil pulling (more on that later), and he had just gotten used to me oil pulling too. I couldn’t take the risk of him looking at me like a freak again.
But overall health and wellness took over, and here I am, loving my homemade toothpaste.
When I first started using homemade toothpaste, I honestly couldn’t tell a difference in the health of my teeth or gums. I thought, “this is silly, I miss my scrubbers”. But I stuck with it, because I knew that any quick “miracle” fixer (other than God!) isn’t good for you. I had to remind myself that it took this long for me to do this damage to my month, it’s going to take at least a month before I see results.
What I saw astounded me, completely.
Over the next month, my gums were no longer bright red, but a very healthy pink.
My gums weren’t swollen around the teeth, but nice, shiny and flat.
My teeth were clean. And stayed clean all day long. I had zero plaque, ever.
Cavities have healed, completely on their own. Yes, you read that right. They have healed.
And I have had absolutely NO cold sores in my mouth since using homemade toothpaste. I used to get at least one cold sore per week.
….and then, last week, I ran out of homemade toothpaste and forgot to make more….
Well, I’ll just use my husband’s non-homemade toothpaste until I get around to making more. Or so I thought.
The first night I brushed my teeth with the regular old Crest, my gums were burning. I literally felt like I had washed my mouth out with gasoline.
I.felt.awful!!!
Two days later, I had a cold sore.
Three days later, my gums were bright red and swollen. They call that gingivitis now days, you know?
Needless to say, my suspicions about store bought toothpaste were correct, and I will never be using it again! Now, if I could just convince my husband.
I babbled all of this to say, I love homemade toothpaste. The below recipe is the only recipe I have tried, but I will be experimenting with more (including Bentonite Clay) eventually.
My favorite part about this recipe is that it uses coconut oil and peppermint essential oil. Both have all natural anti-bacterial properties without using chemicals. They both pull toxins out of your body, naturally. And they both taste super good!
Please do not ever add sugar or a sugar substitute to your toothpaste!! Many bloggers endorse this, and it is just not necessary, nor is it healthy for you or your overall mouth health.
This recipe is your very simple, basic toothpaste recipe. Have fun with it!! Honestly, at this point, I don’t even measure it. Start with your coconut oil base, and then build on it from there to whatever consistency you’d like. Just remember that it will thicken and settle in the first 24 hours, however, you do not need to stir it when you are ready to use it!!
Homemade Toothpaste
• 1/4 cup Organic Coconut Oil
• 4 heaping tbsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
Mix together coconut oil, baking soda, and sea salt in a small jar or container that has a lid.
I prefer to use glass so that there’s no possibility of plastic/BPA leaking into the mixture.
Mix in 10 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil (or you can use another anti-bacterial type oil).
Add more baking soda if you’d like, however, don’t make it too thick.
It will thicken more (in 24 hours) once the coconut oil settles after being mixed up.
Please keep in mind that this is not anything like store bought toothpaste.
There will be no fizzing or tingling.
It’s not soft and smooth.
You will need to dip your toothbrush into the jar of toothpaste, or you can by squeezable tubes to transfer the toothpaste into once mixed. I just do the jar, it’s easier that way — whip it up and go!
I would love to hear your results from using homemade toothpaste (and your recipes, too!)
Feel free to comment below or on our facebook page.
Amy Fewell is a work-at-home mom, homesteader, blogger and writer. Her and her family live on a mini-homestead in Virginia where they raise Icelandic Chickens (and other various breeds), standard Rex rabbits, ducks and more! For more information about their homestead, visit them online at The Fewell Homestead.
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